Congress dictates new seat-sharing formula to NCP

This is likely to deal another blow to the already embittered relations between the Democratic Front government allies, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The Congress has said it will contest 29 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats, leaving only 19 for its ally NCP.

That’s three more seats for Congress from the 2009 elections.

The seat-sharing of 2009 was expected to be repeated during these polls, with NCP even announcing this officially.

On Tuesday, state Congress chief Manikrao Thakre, at a rally in Pune, challenged this, pointing out that before every polls, the NCP bargained for seats depending on the last electoral outcome.

“The Congress has improved its seat count from 2004 to 2009. This time we deserve at least three more seats. We have conveyed the 29:19 formula to the Centre,” Thakre said.

HT had reported that Congress would scale up its tussle with NCP over seat sharing for the Lok Sabha polls following a row between chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and NCP chief Sharad Pawar over the latter’s remarks on slow decision making in the state. Thakre’s demand for 29 seats is unlikely to be accepted meekly by the NCP.

“The seat sharing will be decided in Delhi,” said deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, in response to the Congress’s open demand.